Sanding device for vehicles



Jan. 27, 1953 s. G. s'roRBERG 2,626,823

' 'SANDING DEVICE EoR VEHICLES Filed Aug. 11, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 1lillllllr-o 44c Q so 14 49k L55 Inventor;

Jan. 27, 1953 s. G. sToRBERG 2,626,823

SANDING DEVICE FOR VEHICLES v Filed Aug. 11, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 uf uwNM1 Aitor-neg Jan. 27, 1953 s. G. STORBERG i 2,626,823

SANDING DEVICE FOR VEHICLES I-lm u n Invznftc r:

Samuel G. S'torberg.

Aitor-neg.

Jan. L27, 1953 s. G. STORBERG SANDING DEVICE FOR VEHICLES Filed Aug. ll,1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Jan. 27, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE' SANDING DEVICE FOR VEHICLES Samuel G. Storberg, St. Paul, Minn.

Application August 11, 1948, Serial No. 43,74)

15 Claims. l

This invention relates to a sanding device and particularly to a sandingdevice adapted to 4be carried by a vehicle and to discharge sandadjacent the wheels of said vehicle. It is desirable to have such asanding device for automotive vehicles, particularly trucks, when thetraction surface is covered with ice or snow, or otherwise in slipperycondition. Such devices are also used on busses.

It is an object of this invention to provide a sanding device having avery simple and corn- Apact structure, together with a simple andefficient control means for said sanding device.

It is Aa further object of the invention to provide a sanding devicecomprising a member `adapted lto contain a supply of sand, a chuteleading from said member and having a delivery end, a valve for closingand opening said end, and means for dividing the sand delivered throughsaid end into two substantially equal streams in all positions of saidvalve.

It is also an object of the invention to provide such a structure as setforth in the preceding paragraph, said chute having a delivery enddisposed at one plane and said valve having a dat surface adapted toengage said end, said valve being mounted to swing about an axis at oneside of said end.

It is another object of the invention to provide a sanding devicecomprising a member adapted to contain a supply of sand, a deliverychute leading from said member, a valve for controlling the sanddelivered from said chute and movable to dilerent positions to controlthe amount of sand delivered, a motor, a fan driven by said motor fordirecting air to discharge sand from said device, and a control devicedisposed adjacent the drivers position in said vehicle, movablesuccessively from a position with said valve closed `and said motor andfan idle respectively to positions to operate said motor vand fan and toopen said valve different amounts.

It is still further an object of the invention to provide a sandingdevice for a vehicle comprising a casing mounted adjacent the rearwheels of said vehicle, and comprising a sand supply means, a deliverymeans for said sand, a motor, a fan driven .by said motor, and a novelcontrol device mounted adjacent the drivers position on said vehicle forstarting and stopping said motor and fan and for determining the amountof said to be delivered.

These and other objects and advantagesjof the invention will be fullyset forth in the following description made in accordance with theaccompanying drawings and in which like reference characters refer tosimilar parts throughout the different views and in which;

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of a vehicle showing the device ofthe invention applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a wiring diagram for a motor used;

Fig. 3 is a View in side elevation of a control device used, some partsbeing broken away;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section of said control device taken substantiallyon line 4 4 of Fig. rI as indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a substantially top plan view of a portion of the controldevice shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section taken substantially on line 6 6 of Fig. 4as indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 7 is a horizontal section of said control .device takensubstantially on line 1 1 of Fig. 4 as indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 8 is a view partly in top plan and partly in horizontal section ofa casing used and parts carried thereby;

Fig. 9 is a horizontal section taken substantially on line 9 9 of Fig.10 as indicated by the arrows;

Fig. l0 is a vertical section taken substantially on line I0 I0 of Fig.8 as indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 11 is a horizontal section taken substantially on line II II ofFig. l0, as indicated .by .the arrows;

Fig. 12 is a partial vertical section taken substantially on line I2 I2of Fig. 10 as indicated by the arrows; showing a modication;

Fig. 13 is a vertical section taken substantially on line I3 I3 of Fig.10 as indicated by the arrows, and

Fig. 14 is a partial view in side elevation as seen from the right ofFig. 13.

Referring to the drawings, a device is shown adapted to be connected toa vehicle and, while .various vehicles might be used, in the embodimentof the invention illustrated a device is shown attached -to a truck I 0having a longitudinal frame member Ia supported upon front .wheels Iband rear wheels 10c. The hood I 0d of the vehicle is shown as portion ofthe cab Ille.

in which is disposed the drivers seat Illf in front of which is thesteering wheel I0g. A dash or instrument board Illh is also shown. Thedevice of the invention comprises a casing designated generally as II,which will be mounted upon the frame Illa adjacent the rear wheels I0cand preferably in front of the same. Casing II can be secured in placeby brackets Ii shown as in the form of angle iron. A guide tube. I3extends from casing II to the instrument board I0h and to a -controldevice I2 comprising a housing I4. The casing II is provided with acover I5 Abeneath which is a chamber 'I Ia which forms'a supply chamberor hopper adapted to contain a supply of sand. Chamber I I a has sidesconverging toward their lower ends and these form a chute which has adelivery end I Ib. The periphery of the delivery end of portion IIb isdisposed in one plane and, while portion IIb could be variously formed,in the embodiment of the invention illustrated it is shown ascylindrical. A'valve member I6 has a at surface I6a Iwhich ts againstthe end of portion IIb to close said portion. Valve I6 comprises a plateAIlib to which is secured a plate or ring I6c of some yielding materialssuch as rubber or rubber composition. Plate I is formed as a hub at its-upper end and is swingable with the shaft I1 which extendssubstantially horizon-tal andtransversely of portion IIb above thelatter and is journaled adjacent its ends and the sides of the casing IIas shown in Fig. 13. Shaft I1 pro- ,jects at one side of said casing andhas secured lto said projecting end a lever I9, which lever extends atopposite sides of said shaft. A tensile coil spring is secured to oneend of lever I9 and is secured at its other end to the side of casing IIby a screw cr bolt 2 I. A exible member 22, such as a wire or cable, issecured to the opposite end of lever I9 and extends into the guide tubeI3, one end of which is shown in Fig. |14 and which is held on casing IIby a bracket i23 secured by screws 24. Casing I I contains'a chamber IIcinto which the sand is delivered Ifrom the chute end IIb and a plate 26is disposed at the bottom of chamber IIC, the same being in asubstantially vertical plane and extending toward the end IIb, saidplane being substantially in a vertical diameter of the end I 1b. Plate26 has a concavely curved upper edge, one end of which extends to oneside of chamber Ilc and beneath the end IIb and valve I6, said edgeextending away from end IIb and upwardly to a point a short distanceabove the center of end I Ib. One part of the bottom of chamber I Ic,namely IId, slopes downwardly to a vertical passage IIf whichcommunicates with a chamber I Ilc having a circular Ioutlet I If. Theother part of the bottom of chamber IIc, namely part IIg, slopesdownwardly to the end of portion IIfZ .and directs the sand into apassage I Ih and into a chamber I Im having a circular outlet I Iy.Conduits 21 and 28 extend downwardly from the .chambers to whichpassages I Ie and IIh deliver, said conduits being held in a frame 29secured to casing I I. Each conduit 21 and 28 is held respectively by aset screw 30. The bottom I Id extends downwardly and vertically betweenthe chambers I I Ic and I Im from which conduits 21 and 28 lead.Flexible members 3I will be secured to the ends of conduits 21 and 28 bysuitable clamps 32 and will direct the sand toward the bottoms of therear wheels Ic of the vehicle. A fan housing y34 isdisposed within oneside of casing II, the same having discharge passages 34a which aredirected into the chambers IIlc and Ilm, as shown in Fig. 13. A fan 35is disposed in housing 34 and carried on a shaft 36, to one end of whichis connected a motor 31 also extending into fan housing 34.

As stated, the tubular housing I3 extends to a control device I2 mountedon an instrument board Illh. This control device comprises a casing I4ahaving parallel sides and a substantially semi-cylindrical periphery. Atubular housing I3 is connected toA one side of casing I4a by a bracketwhich is secured to said casing by a pair of.screws 4I. Casing |441,has. ai lafllaly extending flange I4b which is secured to the instrumentpanel by screws or rivets 42. A cam Imember 44 is disposed between theparallel sides of casing I4a, lthe same having a handle portion 44aextending through a slot I4d in the semicylindrical end of casing I4c.Member 44 is `swngable about a pivot member 45 threaded into one side ofcasing I4a, the same extending .through a bushing 46 in member 44.Member 44 has a cam slot 44h therein, a small portion of ,which isconcentric with member 45 and the major portion of which is eccentric-to member 45. A cam follower 41 is disposed in slot 44h, .the samehaving reduced portions 41a projecting through slots I4e on each side ofcasing I4a. One end of cable 22 is secured in a suitable 'manner toprojecting portion 41a. Member 44 has a lower projecting end portion44e, the end of which is beveled as shown as 44d in Fig. 7. A switchmember 49 is supported upon one side of casing Illa. by means of abracket 50 secured :to the side of casing I4a, in any suitable manner.Switch member 48 has a movable portion having a pin 49a projecting intothe space between the sides of casing I4a. and adjacent the cam portion44d. Conductors 5I are secured to electrodes or binding posts 49h ofswitch 49 and are -housed in a covering or cord 52 which extends Etobinding posts on motor 31. Switch 49 is adapted to open and close themotor circuit las illustrated in Fig. 2. A suitable source of power,such as a battery 54 of the vehicle, will furnish current for the motor31. The motor and battery 54 will, as usual, be grounded by beingconnected to the frame of the vehicle. Cover portions 55 and 53 ofcasing I4c are secured to `casing I4a at respective sides thereof andhouse the switch 49 and connected parts and the upper -housing I3 andbracket 40 and portion 41a. Rivets 51 secure the sides of casing I4a toa. spacing block 58 and also extend through a spacing block 59 for thecover member 56. The latter is held in place by a screw 60. The casingI4c will have graduations or lines 5I at one side of the slot I4d andthe one of the same at the top is designated ofi the next adjacent oneis designated fan, the next adjacent one is designated sand I, and thetwo at the bottom are designated sand 2 and sand 3 respectively.

In operation sand will be placed in the chamber or hopper I Ia and thelid or cover I5 will be placed on the casing II. When the device is ininoperative position and i-t is desired to apply some sand to theroadway, the driver will take hold of handle 44a and move the sametoward him or downwardly. A slight movement of handle 44a will move theprojection 44o and bring the beveled portion 44d into engagement `withthe end of pin 48a. Pin 49a will be moved downwardly as shown in Fig. '1and this will close switch 49. Motor 31 will now be started and fan 35will be driven. Air will now be blown into the chambers IIlc and Hm andwill pass downwardly through conduits 21 and 28 and into the conduits3l. A further movement of handle 44a will bring cam follower 41 into theeccentric portion of cam slot 44h and this will move portion 41a, andexert a pull upon cable 22. This in turn will pull upon lever I9 againstIthe tension of spring 20 and will swing shaft I1, and valve I6 will beswung away from the end IIb of the sand delivery chute. Sand will now bedelivered by gravity through portion I Ib and this sand will be vdividedinto substantially equal streams by the plate 25 and will pass down intothe chambers I Ilc and I Im. Should more sand be required, the driverwill move handle 44a, so that a marking thereon will register with theline 6I, mark 2 on 3, and this will open valve I6 still further. Plate26 will always divide the sand into substantially equal streams nomatter to what degree the valve I6 is opened. rPhe sand will drop downinto chambers IIlc and Ilm. and will be forcibly directed through theconduits 21 and 28 and the conduits 3I toward the rear wheels Ille andthe traction surface. Reverse movements of the handle Ma. will decreasethe amount of sand through action of spring and when it is desired torender the device inoperative, the handle will be moved to its upper oroil position. The circuit of motor 31 will then be broken and the fan 35will not be driven. Spring 20 and the corresponding end of lever I8 maybe lomitted if desired. The push of member 22 and gravity lwould thenoperate valve I6.

In Fig. 12 a modification is shown in which a member or pin 63 issecured in valve I6 substantially central of the end I Ib. Pin 63 isthreaded and has a locking nut 64 thereon which engages one side ofvalve I6. The pin 63 will enter the end I Ib and will act to keep thesand free and in flowing condition.

From the above description it will be seen that I have provided a verysimple, compact and eilicient sanding device including a compact andefficient controlling means. The device can be easily, quickly andconveniently attached to the standard truck, bus or other automotivevehicle and will operate efficiently to deliver sand to the roadway tosecure more traction. The casing I I is made largely from sheet metaland can be easily produced and assembled. The device has beendemonstrated in actual practice, found to be very successful and efcientand is being commercially made.

It will of course be understood that various changes may be made in theform, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts, withoutdeparting from the scope of applicants invention, which generallystated, consists in a device capable of carrying out the objects aboveset forth, in the parts and combinations of parts disclosed and dened inthe appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A sanding device for a vehicle having in combination, a casing havinga chamber therein adapted to contain a supply of sand, a chute leadingfrom said chamber through which sand flows and having a discharge end ina plane substantially at right angles to the central axis of said chute,said chute having a delivery end, a platelike valve hinged above saidchute and swingable to engage and close and to open said end, passagesbelow said valve to which sand is delivered from said chute and a platebelow said valve disposed in a vertical plane for dividing the sanddelivered by said chute into equal parts and means for directing saidparts into said passages in all open positions of said valve.

2. The structure set forth in claim 1, said plate being disposed in aplane passing through a substantially median line of the end of saidchute and having its upper end disposed in an arc closely adjacent thearc described by the lower end of said valve in its movement.

3. A sand device for a Vehicle having in combination, a casing having achamber therein adapted to contain a supply of sand, a chute leadingfrom said chamber through which sand iiows,

said chute having a delivery end the periphery of which is disposed inone plane substantially at right angles to the central axis of saidchute, a plate valve swingable about an axis at the upper side of saidchute and having a surface adapted to engage said end to close saidchute and to be moved away from said end to different positions to opensaid valve different amounts, and a plate adjacent said end disposed ina vertical plane forming substantially a median plane of said end todivide the sand delivered through said chute into substantially equalstreams in all positions of said valve, a pair of substantially paralleldownwardly extending chutes and plates for directing said streams intosaid last mentioned chutes respectively.

4. The structure set forth in claim 3 and a member projecting from saidvalve adjacent said chute and adapted to move into and out of said endin the swinging movement of said valve.

5. A sanding device for a vehicle having in combination a casing havinga chamber therein adapted to contain a supply of sand, a cylindricalchute leading from said chamber through which sand flows, said chutehaving a delivery end the periphery of which is disposed in one planeperpendicular to the central axis of said chute, a plate valve swingableabout a substantially horizontal axis at the upper side of said chute,having a surface adapted to engage said end to close said end, a plateadjacent said end disposed in a substantially vertical plane, whichplane forms substantially a vertical diameter of said end, passagesleading downwardly from each side of said plate and a pair or"substantially parallel chutes below said passages whereby sand deliveredby said chute is divided into two substantially equal streams anddirected into said last mentioned chutes by said passages in all openpositions of said valve.

6. A sanding device for a vehicle having in combination, a casing havinga chamber adapted to contain a supply oi sand, a substantiallycylindrical chute leading from said chamber, said chute having a.delivery end disposed substantially in one substantially vertical plane,a plate-like valve having a surfaceadapted to engage said end and hingedabout an axis disposed above said end, a plate having a concavely curvedupper edge extending from a point below and closely adjacent said endand extending away from said end and upwardly to above the center ofsaid end, said plate being disposed in a substantially vertical planeforming substantially a median plane of said end, the upper edge of saidplate being adjacent and substantially parallel to the arc described bythe bottom of said valve in its swinging movement, a pair of downwardlyextending substantially parallel chutes and channels leading downwardlyfrom each side of said plate and leading to said chutes, whereby sanddelivered from said end is divided into substantially equal streams anddelivered by said channels to said last mentioned chutes respectively.

7. A sanding device for a vehicle having in combination, a casing havinga chamber for containing a supply of sand, a chute leading from saidchamber and having a discharge end, a valve for closing said end andswingable with a shaft disposed at one side of said valve, a leversecured to said shaft, a spring connected to one end ci said lever, acable secured at one end to the other end of said lever, a member towhich the other end of said cable is secured, a control member swingableabout a lixed axis and having a handle,

said control member comprising a cam slot eccentric to said axis, saidrst mentioned member having a part disposed in said cam slot wherebysaid rst mentioned member is moved to different 'positions by swingingsaid handle to pull upon said cable and open said valve dierent amounts.

8. A sanding device for a vehicle having in combination, a casingmounted adjacent the rear wheels of said vehicle and comprising achamber adapted to contain a supply of sand, a chute leading from saidchamber and having a delivery end, a plate-like valve for engaging andclosing said end and movable to different positions to permit dischargeof different amounts of sand, and a control member pivotally mounted foroscillating movement adjacent the drivers position on said vehicle andhaving a handle movable to different positions, a cable connecting saidmemberand valve movable by said member for opening said valve differentamounts.

9. The structure set forth in claim 10, a fan for discharging sand, amotor for driving said fan, a switch for controlling said motor adjacentsaid control member and means movable by said control member for closingsaid switch before said valve is opened.

10. A sanding device for a vehicle having in combination, a casinghaving a chamber therein adapted to contain `a supply of sand, a chuteleading from said chamber and having a discharge end, Ia valve forclosing :and opening said end, a control cam member comprising a camhaving a cam slot, a member connected to said valve disposed in saidslot, and a switch, said cam member having a portion adapted t closesaid switch.

11. A sanding device for a vehicle having in combination, a casinghaving :a chamber adapted to contain a supply of sand, a chute leading'from said chamber, a valve for closing and opening said chute, acontrol member adapted to be mounted adjacent the drivers position onsaid vehicle comprising parallel plates, a pivot extending between saidplates, a cam member movable between said plates and having a handlethereon, said cam member being swingable about said pivot, a switch atone side of one of said plates, having a pin projecting through saidplate, said cam member having a beveled end adapted to engage and movesaid pin to close said switch, said cam member having a cam slottherein, a cam follower disposed in said slot, the other of said plateshave a slot through which said follower projects and in which it ismovable, and a member secured to said follower and to said valve foropening said valve different amounts in the movement of said cam member.

12. A sanding device for a vehicle having in combination, a casing, afan, a fan housing carried by said casing, a supply hopper for sand atthe upper end of said casing, a chute leading from said hopper andhaving a delivery end disposed in one plane, a swinging valve having aflat surface movable against and away from said delivery end, a plate infront of said valve disposed substantially in a median plane of saidend, passages leading from the sides of said plate respectively and Iapair of discharge chutes, said passages leading from said fan housing tosaid discharge chutes respectively.

13. A sanding device for a Vehicle having in combination, a casinghaving a chamber therein adapted to contain a supply of sand, a chuteleading from said chamber and having a discharge end, a movable valvefor closing and opening said end, a control member swingable about a xedaxis and having a cam slot therein, said slot having a portionconcentric to said axis and another portion eccentric to said axis, afollower in said slot, a member connecting said follower connected tosaid valve for moving the latter when said follower is moved, a fan, amotor for driving said fan, a switch for said motor adjacent saidcontrol device, means on said cam for closing said switch duringmovement of said concentric portion of said slot relative t0 saidfollower, further movement of said cam causing said eccentric portion ofsaid cam to move said follower :and open said valve.

14. A sanding device for a vehicle having in combination, a casinghaving a chamber adapted to contain va supply of sand, a chute leadingfrom said chamber, said chute having a delivery end disposedsubstantially in one plane, a plate-like valve having a surface adaptedto engage said end, a lever connected to said valve for swinging thesame, a spring at one end of said lever for moving said valve to closedposition, a cable connected to the other end of said lever, a movablemanually operated control member adjacent the position of the driver ofsaid vehicle having a handle adapted to be grasped by said driver, saidcable being connected to said control member whereby said valve may beopened more or less by movement of said control member to permitdelivery of more or less sand, means for directing an air blast formoving said delivered sand and a switch for controlling said lastmentioned means.

l5. A sanding device for a vehicle having in combination, a casinghaving a chamber adapted to contain a supply of sand, a chute leadingfrom said chamber, said chute having a delivery end disposedsubstantially in one substantially vertical plane, a plate-like valvehaving a surface adapted to engage said end and hinged about an axisdisposed above said end, a spring adapted to move said Valve to closedposition, and means adjacent the position of the driver of said vehicleadapted to be manually moved by said driver, other means connected tosaid nrst mentioned means and valve whereby said valve will be opened bymovement of said first mentioned means, an electrically operated meansfor directing an air blast for moving said delivered sand and a switchadjacent the drivers position for controlling said last mentioned means.

SAMUEL G. STORBERG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the

